general -- overall, broad
welfare -- well-being, benefit
United States -- The nation as abstracted from the government or the people, the nation as a whole.
So, "The overall well-being of the nation as a whole."
Like I said: interstate highways, meteorological services, etc ...
The meaning is clear on the face of it, confusion only occurs when it is introduced by the artifice of frauds such as yourself.
Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, etc... OK, you've just agreed with me by insisting on using the definition that you posted above, after all, your definition fails to differentiate between why meterological services would be granted by the "general welfare" clause but that Medicaid would not...